Prison Officer Sentenced to One Year for Inappropriate Relationship with Inmate

Toni Cole, 29, admitted to misconduct after engaging in a romantic relationship with a prisoner at HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire.

Toni Cole, a 29-year-old prison officer, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office.
She engaged in a five-month inappropriate relationship with a 28-year-old inmate at HMP Five Wells, exchanging over 4,400 messages and calls, many of which were flirtatious or sexual in nature.
The relationship was uncovered during a meeting about an unauthorized overtime shift, with CCTV footage showing the inmate with his arm around Cole.
Investigators found evidence of at least 18 video calls and discovered Cole had promised to warn the inmate if his cell was to be searched.
Authorities emphasized the risks her actions posed to the safety of colleagues and inmates, highlighting that most prison staff uphold high professional standards.